A day-to-day guide to surviving 2005

January

Start of bonus declaration season at insurance companies, setting returns on with-profits investments for endowments and pensions.

Statements of account go out from Inland Revenue for 31 January tax bills.

Annual peak for numbers of elderly finding out about care homes and for couples breaking up following the prolonged Christmas break.

Child Trust Funds: first £250 or £500 vouchers expected to go out to parents of children born on or after 1 September 2002.

Endowment mortgage holders urged to make mis-selling claims if they have not done so already, as time-bar rules set in.

2nd: rail increases come in, averaging 4 per cent for season tickets and other 'regulated' fares but rising to 7.2 per cent on some other journeys.

Insurance intermediaries become regulated by the Financial Services Authority, making it easier for people to be compensated if there are problems.

31st: deadlines for submitting tax returns for 2003-04 tax year (automatic fines of up to £100 if late). Tax due for the self-employed: interim payment for 2004-05 and final payment for 2003-04.

February

Early announcements to be made suggesting size of council tax rises this year.

Insurer Norwich Union expected to finish its accurate UK flood map, making it more difficult for many homeowners to get insurance and possibly prompting more competition for the business of those revealed as being better risks than expected.

Edinburgh residents vote on £2-a-day congestion charge proposed for 2006.

25th: 'work your proper hours day', organised by the TUC. This is the day when people who work typical amounts of overtime start earning a salary, having effectively worked so far in 2005 for free.

28th: 5 per cent surcharge levied by Inland Revenue on any tax due for 2003-04 that is still unpaid.

March

Worst time of the year to seek home help from social services or a move into a care home, as local authorities are at the end of their budgets.

New procedures adopted on pension-sharing on divorce to harmonise methods used.

Likely time for the last Budget before the expected general election.

27th (Easter Sunday): traditional start of the summer house-buying season.

April

Water prices go up - by 18 per cent in total between now and 2009.

Start of pension protection fund to help final-salary scheme members whose schemes collapse.

New rights for employees to demand information and consultation in businesses employing 150 or more (threshold to fall to 50 employees by April 2008).

New state pensions and benefit upratings come into effect, including a £2.45 rise in full basic state pension to £82.05.

1st: new council tax year. Average bill expected to top £1,000. House price values at this date will be used for April 2007 realignment and resetting of council tax charges. TV licence rises from £121 to £126.50.

6th: start of new tax year. Tax returns start being sent out, including simplified forms to 1.5 million people. Cash ISA allowance expected to stay at £3,000. Many other tax breaks available. New tax thresholds, rates and allowances begin.

May

'Tax-free day' - the day when you start earning money rather than paying tax, organised by Adam Smith Institute - expected in late May or early June.

Wedding season kicks off in earnest, with costs heading towards £15,000 for the average traditional wedding (according to 2003 Prudential figures, updated for inflation).

5th: hotly tipped to be the day of the general election.

June

Statements of account go out from Inland Revenue for 31 July tax bills.

Government expected to decide on contents of 'home information packs' - expected to cost sellers of homes £650 and due to become compulsory when people put their homes up for sale from January 2007.

July

Annual report from Child Support Agency (with, perhaps, some announcements for reform?)

31st: tax due for self-employed: second interim payment for 2004-05.

August

Most expensive time of the year to go on holiday. Prices could easily be 50 or 100 per cent higher than at other times.

September

Start of new school year. Average private school fees likely to exceed £8,000 a year for day pupils and to be nearly £20,000 for boarders. (Figures from Independent Schools Council Information Services and increased by 5 per cent per annum.)

People who turn 60 by the middle of the month (date to be announced) qualify for winter fuel allowance of an expected £200 (more for over-seventies and over-eighties).

Tuition fees for university students are set at £1,175 for this academic year.

30th: deadline for filing tax return for people who want Inland Revenue to calculate tax due.

October

Annual Environment Agency flood awareness campaign starts.

5th: deadline for notifying Inland Revenue of new sources of income for 2004-05 tax year.

Big debate on future of pensions expected to be sparked by publication of final report from Adair Turner's Pensions Commission.

November

Winter fuel payments start going out.

December

Controversy may break out again on council tax as Lyons report on local government finances is published.

Universities will soon begin announcing variable tuition fees rates, which start next autumn and are capped at £3,000 per head per year.

Endowment issue coming to a head for Norwich Union members, who will start to become time-barred from complaining, on a rolling-programme basis, from March 2006.

House prices expected to have dropped 2 per cent during 2005, according to the Halifax. Many others are more positive, including the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which predicts a 4 per cent increase.